NAVAL COURTMARTIAL

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 93, 14 January 1929, Page 10

NAVAL COURTMARTIAL

CHIEF PETTY-OFFICER DISRATED Dominion Special Service. Atieldliriil, January 11. I-1.J1.5. Piiiloiriel, the training Sliip of the New Zealand Navril Station, was given additional status as the veiiiie of a Naval Court-martial, for the trial of a chief petty-offleer oh charges of breaches of the Naval Discipline Act. AVlth the ho’istihg of tile doloiifs at 8 o’clock, a salute of one giiri that announces the impehding sitting of ti court-martial was fired. AVhen the Court assembled for the court-martial the Union Jack was hoisted at the gaff, where it reriiairied until the Court dis* solved.

The accused was Chief Petty-Officer Robert Lindsay Parker, of I-I.M.S. Diomede, and he was charged with smuggling whisky into a navrl base on December 29. The alternative charges were of being in possession of sniugglfed whisky, and of failing to prevent whisky from being stowed iri an improper place, ilaihely, the boatswain’s rriady-use store on the Diomede, a store for whlfch he was personally responsible. Captain C. N. Reynri; second nival member, presided; Six witnesses were called for tlie prosecution. A general denial was made on behalf of the prisoner, the evidence of twO perty-bflicers beihg heard du his behalf; Parker was found guilty on (he major charge of smuggling whisky iiito a bhse, arid the alternative charges were, therefore, dropped. The Sent* ence of the Court “’ris that he should be disrated to the rating of leading seainan, and be deprived of two good conduct badges.

Unlike court-martials in the Army; the filet that he Was fotihd guilty was conveyed to accused immediately, and he was also acquainted with the sentence. In tho Army the accused de*

duces from the action of the Coiirt iii calling or abstaining from asking for evidence of character, whether he has been guilty or not, and the sentence is left confidential until it is confirmed by the officer who convenes the coiirt* martial.